Michael Jackson's Accusers Are Back In Court Over A 'Proposed Protective Order'

It has been nearly sixteen years since Michael Jackson's death; however, his legacy remains marred by unrelenting child abuse allegations.

Wade Robson and James Safechuck remain adamant about the alleged trauma they experienced at the hands of the King of Pop when they were children. Their recently combined lawsuits against the "Thriller" hitmaker's companies have them fighting against a protective order. 

The legal drama began in 2013 when Wade Robson filed his scathing allegations against Michael Jackson's companies, MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures. James Safechuck dropped his bombshell lawsuit the following year before the late singer's accusers teamed up to push their cases.

Robson claimed Jackson sexually abused him when he was seven, and it continued for years. Meanwhile, Safechuck alleged he met the entertainer in 1986 when he was cast in a Pepsi commercial. He noted Jackson asked him to hang out months later, leading to many other hangouts.

Safechuck claimed Jackson's sexual abuse started in 1988 during his Bad Tour when he was 10 and the singer was 29. The alleged victims sued MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures for intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty, among other claims.

The companies have vehemently denied all allegations of wrongdoing and submitted a proposed protective order, which Safechuck and Robson opposed in court documents obtained by In Touch.

The defendants argued the pair waited years after Jackson's death before making their claims despite once defending the singer.

In their response to Safechuck's lawsuit, Jackson's companies noted it took "almost four years after Michael Jackson had died before he made his scurrilous and frivolous allegations." The attorney for the defendants added:

"The nature of these false allegations necessarily makes it impossible for the Corporations to fully defend themselves without the assistance of Michael Jackson himself."

"The impossibility of fully and completely defending against [James'] false allegations is further magnified by the fact that [James] himself steadfastly denied these allegations during the entirety of Michael Jackson's life," the legal rep argued.

Additionally, the defendants demanded the lawsuit be tossed because they could not possibly have been on notice, before Jackson's death, that Safechuck would "bring frivolous claims like those here and that they should have been prepared to defend against such frivolous claims."

Safechuck and Robson haven't had a victorious streak in their lawsuits, with a judge shutting their plea for sensitive information.

The pair attempted to obtain sensitive photos of Jackson and other evidence via subpoenas sent to the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, and the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office.

However, Jackson's companies fought against the subpoenas, and a judge granted their refusal request.

Outside court, Robson and Safechuck have pushed their abuse narrative through interviews and the 2019 documentary "Leaving Neverland" and its March 2025 sequel "Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson."

The Blast covered the story, reporting that Safechuck and Robson addressed the aftermath of their allegations ahead of the sequel's release. Robson described the fear of public reaction as "fricking terrifying," while Safechuck recalled feeling anxious about the first documentary's debut.

Like the first documentary, "Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson," revisited Robson and Safechuck's alleged abuse at Jackson's hands. Safechuck recalled some of his painful memories, claiming the late singer performed sexual acts on him when he was asleep.

Additionally, the sequel followed their harrowing journey and aimed to shed light on the impacts of their allegations on an influential figure like Jackson. Robson also reflected on having Oprah Winfrey's support following the first documentary's release. In his words:

"Winfrey got what I and James had been through, you know, getting to the point in life where it was no longer an option to keep it a secret."

Robson and Safechuck accused Jackson of grooming them into silence and ensuring they supported him during his infamous child molestation trial. The pair claimed the late singer coerced them into giving false narratives, alleging he threatened to ruin their lives if they spoke against him.

Robson alleged he initially denied Jackson's request to testify on his behalf. However, he kept receiving subpoenas, which made him believe he had no choice but to comply. Safechuck testified in the performer's favor during the 1993 molestation trial but chose not to support him in his 2005 legal battle.

Jackson's accusers also addressed their lawsuit against the entertainer's companies, noting this was their way of fighting back and healing from their alleged traumas. Safechuck said: "Pursuing this was the act of fighting back. I wanted to fight for little James. I wanted to fight for him and fight for myself."

Will Michael Jackson'saccusers emerge triumphant, or will the late singer's name be redeemed?